When Victorica Monroe took over the Mississippi School for the Deaf girls basketball program prior to the season, she had no way of knowing it would be a historic one. Four months later she’s guided the Bulldogs to their sixth Mason Dixon Championship and, most recently, their first appearance in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs in school history.

MSD (18-4) did that by beating Ethel on Monday in the first round. The Bulldogs play at Leake Countyat 7 p.m. Friday with a chance to reach the quarterfinals.

Monroe took over the program from athletic director Holly Reichle following last season.

“My expectations were that we have a good season,” said Monroe, who used sign language through an interpreter. “That’s really all it was, that we have an amazing season. But when we became a part of history it really was shocking because I wasn’t thinking about it like that. I just wanted to come and be a good coach, and in the meantime we’ve made history.”

Monroe is no stranger to the halls of MSD. A former student and basketball star at the school, she first arrived on campus at just 3 years old with the game of basketball already in the forefront of her mind.

“I knew her when she was in kindergarten; I knew her when she was very little,” Reichle said. “Kindergarten, first, second and third grade — everybody who knew her knew she was extremely precocious. Just a precious little leader in her class. I think she ran the school by the time she was in fourth grade.”

The fearless little girl grew into a fearless young woman who has led MSD to two Mason Dixon championships (a tournament that matches MSD against other deaf teams from around the Southeast). Despite her natural ability on the court, coaching did not come as easily.

Reichle knows this success comes from lessons much greater than the X’s and O’s. It’s Monroe's natural ability to guide these young women and her personal self-confidence that has shown them anything is possible.

“I’m proud of her every day that she walks her own walk that she fights for her rights, and she is proud of who she is and she’s comfortable in her own skin,” Reichle said. “All of those things are things that we wish for our own children, for everybody — she embodies that. The girls see themselves in Victorica Monroe and they know they can do that, they can be that. So when I have my deaf coaches coming in, they see masters degrees, they see people with pride in themselves — they know they can become that. Believing in yourself, believing in the team and believing in your coach; that’s what makes championships. That’s where these championships come from.”

The young women of MSD are playing teams throughout the state of Mississippi who are not, and the Bulldogs are 10-4 in those games with all but one loss coming to defending state champion Bogue Chitto.

Outside expectations became lessons Monroe used to fuel her teams desire for greatness. In the process of making it to the second round it has become much more than just a game of basketball for this team. It’s about proving to the community they are capable and are strong.

“I feel that many people in the community look up to us as deaf people now,” said senior captain Shakeedra Hubbard, who also spoke through an interpreter. “I want the hearing community to know about us. They always feel that we’re lousy, but now they’re able to see that we can accomplish things. We can do things. I mean 18 wins and four losses, we’re good and we’re successful with what we do and I want the hearing community to see that.”

The next round will be the biggest challenge the Bulldogs have faced this season. But having made it this far there is nothing to lose. They’ve already won a championship and made history. The only thing they desire to accomplish now is being an inspiration to the community.

“Our accomplishments have impacted the community in a huge way, a tremendous way,” Monroe said. “Understand our team is really young girls (with) eighth- and ninth-graders, a few 10th-graders, and I think we have three seniors. Really, it’s a young team and they tend to feel awkward at this age. But not these girls. They are ready to change the world. And so we’re here to prove the community wrong in terms of who they think we are.”